Music providing method and system and music creation system

ABSTRACT

The present invention aims at providing a high-quality music full of originality efficiently in a short period of time and at a relatively low cost.  
     Subsequent to authentication being effected to a user, an ordering program  110  is executed in a MA server  100 , so that an order window image is transmitted to the user. In a test-listening phase, the user can search for and listen to desired music material(s) by inputting parameters to be searched. In a phase for setting parameters, an image of order sheet is indicated on the screen, in which desired values may be inputted, or selection may be made from a pull-down menu. On the side of the MA server  100 , an operator of DAW makes reference to an order data  114  and uses material data  202 , thereby executing an editing process according to an order placed by the user. A data of a finally produced music is transmitted from a DAW  200  to the MA server  100 . In the MA server  100 , a delivery program  112  is executed to transmit a delivery data  116  to a user&#39;s PC  150  together with an accounting data.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for providing music, a systemfor effecting such method, and a system for producing music. Forinstance, the invention relates to a method for providing music, bywhich music is provided to multi-audio creators who producecomprehensive audio tracks by using a large number of materials for themusic (including SE (sound effect) and/or narration), and also relatesto a system for effecting such method as well as to a system forproducing the music.

BACKGROUND ARTS

In recent years, a music has played an increasingly important role invideo or image works to the degree that one can safely say that no imagework exist without music. Conventionally, it had been customary for acomposer to provide his or her original music to an image work, but,nowadays, a rapidly increasing number of multi-audio (“MA” for short)creators have actually employed copyright-free sound sources or existingsound sources (hereinafter, referred to as “copyright-free sound sourcesand so forth”), resulting in a sudden reduction of request of musiccomposition to a particular composer. In other words, the copyright-freesound sources and so forth have been used in such a way that a desiredtune(s), a desired effective sound(s), and a desired narration areselected therefrom and edited, and then mixed (or combined) with imagework(s).

Such procedures are shown in FIG. 8, wherein, by way of example, a TVbroadcast station 10 places an order with a MA studio 12 for a MAproduct designed for a TV program. As shown, copyright-free soundsources are provided to the MA studio 12, as by CD medium, from aplurality of companies who produce copyright free sound sources. The MAstudio 12 uses the copyright free sound sources and executes requiredprocesses to select and edit desired tunes and effective sounds withregard to an image ordered, then combine a resulting music with theimage, and delivers a final product to the TV broadcast station 10. Thisis an example of the case where the copyright-free sound sources areused, but, other existing kinds of sound sources may be used for thatpurpose.

The reasons behind the foregoing use of copyright-free sound sources andso forth are deemed to be based on the following factors:

-   -   (1) Costs . . . Costs and expenses will increase in the case of        requesting a composer to compose music, which will become higher        than the case where the copyright-free sound sources and so        forth are used.    -   (2) Time and labor required to request music composition . . .        Due to the tendency to reduce a time for producing an image        work, it is impossible to have a time to confer with people        about producing music. But, in the case of requesting a composer        to compose music, a considerable period of time will be needed        in order to arrange a conference among people concerned, compose        a proper music, and make a recording of the composed music.    -   (3) Prior checking . . . Before a composer completes recording        of his or her composed piece of music, there is no way for the        details of the composed music piece to be checked out by a        client asking the composer for the music composition. Hence, the        more importantly a role of the requested piece of music is        played in a whole of the client's work, the higher a possibility        of risk will be increased on the client's part.    -   (4) Satisfying availability of the copyright free sound sources        and so forth . . . Supply of sound sources via CD mediums,        periodical change of contents involved therein, release of        orchestra sounds recorded abroad, and other music production        ways have realized a satisfying sound quality and composition of        the copyright free sound sources and so forth which had been        meager in the past.    -   (5) Prevalence of DAW . . . In using the copyright free sound        sources and so forth, it is inevitably necessary to undergo the        step of editing the music materials. However, such editing        process now becomes easier to effect by use of such DAW (Digital        Audio Workstation) as “ProTools” (Digidesign) or “NUENDO”        (Steinberg).

Nonetheless, in the above-stated background-art state for effecting theMA creation process using the copyright-free sound sources and so forth,there has been the following problems: a uniformity is not attainable inthe created sound; many fade-out and/or cut-out processes are inevitablyrequired; a discontinuity causes in flow of the music sound; and theresulting piece of music has a low originality, as a result of which, acreator or stage director who desires a high quality of music will findhimself or herself compelled to accept a lot of undesirable aspects.

The present invention takes the foregoing points into consideration andaims at providing a method for providing music, a system for effectingthe same, and a system for producing music, which are not onlyrelatively low in costs, but also permit for efficiently providing ahigh quality of music and/or sound full of originality in a short periodof time.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve the above-stated aim, a process for producing musicin accordance with the present invention, which uses a great number ofmaterial data n provided beforehand from the side of a sever in amulti-track form, is characterized by including: a step of receiving anorder from a user through a network; a step of subjecting the saidmaterial data to required processing by means of DAW according todetails of the said order; and a step of providing said user with amusic which has been produced by and subsequent to the said requiredprocessing.

A system for producing music in accordance with the present invention,by which the music is produced according to details of an order receivedfrom a user through a network and then provided to the user, ischaracterized by being provided with: a great number of material data ina multi-track form; an ordering means for allowing for settingparameters and placing an order; and a delivery means for delivering tothe user a resulting music which has been produced, and alsocharacterized in that the music is produced by using the material dataaccording to the detail of the order placed by the ordering means.

According to a major embodiment of the present invention, theafore-stated system for producing music is characterized by at leastcomprising: a test-listening means for allowing the foregoing materialdata to be test listened; an authentication means for executingauthentication processing to the user; and an accounting means forexecuting accounting processing with respect to services given to thesaid user. In another embodiment of the invention, the system ischaracterized in that the music, which is to be produced by using thematerial data according to the details of order placed by the orderingmeans, is produced by use of DAW. One mode of the DAW is characterizedby including automatic processing means for automatically producing themusic which is to be produced by using the material data according tothe detail of order. Still another embodiment of the invention ischaracterized in that the foregoing ordering means allows nontechnicalterm associated with the music to be used in order to set said detail ofsaid order.

In addition, the present invention is characterized in that the systemfor producing music and a lager number of user's terminals are connectedto a network. It should be noted that the foregoing and anotherpurposes, features, and advantages will become more specificallyapparent from the detailed description hereinafter with reference to theannexed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for showing one embodiment of systemarchitecture in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explanatorily showing parameters for orderingprocedure.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explanatorily showing a processing under each ofmulti-track system and two-track mixing system.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explanatorily showing one example of processingfor MA by means of DAW.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing operation of the foregoingembodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explanatorily showing images appearing on thescreen of user's PC.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explanatorily showing one example of addingmusic pieces to the respective images.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram for showing a conventional system forproducing music.

BEST EMBODIMENT FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

<Construction of one embodiment> . . . Hereinafter, one exemplaryembodiment of the present invention will be specifically described. FIG.1 illustrates a whole of arrangement of a system for wire distributingMA works (i.e. an on-demand composer). As shown in that figure, thepresent system is so constructed as to have a MA server 100 as a centralunit, the MA server being connected with an Internet 190 and alsoconnected with a PC (i.e. a personal computer) owned by a user who willplace an order with the MA server. It is noted that providers and othermany servers are omitted.

Among those elements, at first, a description will be made of the MAserver 100. This MA server 100 is provided with:

-   -   (1) a user database 102 in which are accumulated in storage a        data concerning users who receive services to be provided by the        present system;    -   (2) a test-listening database 104 which allows sample tunes to        be test listened;    -   (3) an order database 106 in which parameters to be set for        ordering are accumulated in storage;    -   (4) an authentication program 108 for causing reference to the        afore-said user database 102 and thereby executing        authentication of a user(s) found therein.    -   (5) an ordering program 110 for causing reference to the        afore-said test-listening database 104 and/or order database        106, and enabling search for parameters for ordering, and/or        enabling selection of particular one or more of the parameters;        and    -   (6) a delivery program 112 for allowing a resulting musical        composition(s) to be delivered to the user, while simultaneously        executing accounting processing by referencing the afore-said        user database 102.

Among those elements, the test-listening database 104 is adapted forallowing the user to test listen to some of typical music materials thathave been collected and stored therein, thereby enabling the user toorder one or more pieces of the music materials to which he or she hastest listened. The order database 106 is a database having parameters tobe set or selected by the user. As shown in FIG. 2 by way of oneexample, the parameters, which are to be set by the user when ordering,may include: “size”, “tempo”, “construction”, “motif”, “sound”, etc. . .. In this respect, for instance, the “size” of an intended musicalcomposition may be set by a time, say, 5 minutes. And, the constructionof the musical composition may be expressed by phrases which may forexample consist of A, B, C . . . , in which case, sequencing the phrasesmay be programmed such that “A - A - B - A”. Next, in the case of the“motif”, for example, one or more of the following categories may beselected: “pleasant”, “sad”, “gloomy”, “scary”, and etc. . . . Likewise,in the case of the “space”, one or more of the following categories beselected: “sky”, “sea”, “forest”, and etc. . . . With regard to otherparameters shown, the same manner of selection as above may be made. Ofcourse, those setting procedures are just one example, and therefore,any of the shown parameters be set as desired and appropriately.

The ordering program 110 is a program for causing reference to theaforementioned order database 106 and causing sequential indication onscreen of the following guidance: search, designation, selection, andinput, in given parameters for ordering, so as to obtain and store thedetails of parameters by which the user has placed an order, as an orderdata 114. The delivery program 112 is a program for causing a data of afinally produced musical composition to transform into a proper formthat can be downloaded by the user, or allowing such data to be recordedon a CD-ROM medium, depending on a size of the data, and then deliveringit to the user. This delivery program is also capable of calculatingcharges involved.

Next, turning back to FIG. 1, the DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) 200 isconnected with the MA server 100. In the present embodiment, a greatnumber of material data 202 for music materials are stored in memory inthe form of both two-channel mix and multi track. By means of the multitrack, it is possible to pick out and/or edit each of musical instrumentparts. With regard to the afore-stated copyright-free sound sources andso forth, they are stored in the form of the two-channel mix. Thoseprocessing are illustrated in FIG. 3. In the case of the multi trackform, as shown in the (A) of that FIG. 3 for example, the instrumentalparts, such as violin, piano, guitar, bass, drums, etc. . . . , areseparately recorded on their respective audio tracks. Thus, a particularone or more of those sound parts may be extracted solely therefrom andsubjected to various steps of processing by means of the DAW 200. Bycontrast, the two-channel mix relates to recording of the musical partsthat have been mixed down or tracked down from among the musical partsshown in the (A) of the said FIG. 3, and, according thereto, as shown inthe (B) of such FIG. 3, the thus-tracked-down parts are mixed togetherinto L channel and R channel in stereophonic way, which are recorded ontheir respective two audio tracks. Hence, it is no longer possible toalter the recorded contents of resulting piece of music.

Further, in the DAW 200, various required steps for MA processing may beeffected, which, for example, involve: changing tempo and/or tonality;setting refrain and/or ritardando; setting and changing the compositionof musical instruments and/or the construction of musical composition;processing various kinds of effects; and optimization for each of mediaused. One example of such processing is shown in FIG. 4. Suppose, forinstance, that two independent pieces of music materials are provided asshown in (A) of the FIG. 4. That is, one music material A is composed inC major with the tempo of 120, consisting of Parts 1 to 5 in sequence.And, another music material B is composed in G major with the tempo of80, consisting of Parts 6 to 8 in sequence. If those two materials aresubjected to processing by the DAW 200 for changing and setting theafore-said construction of musical composition, tempo, tonality and soforth, as shown in the (B) of the FIG. 4, it is possible to create a newpiece of musical composition in F major with the tempo of 100, as shownin (C) of the FIG. 4. With regard to the automatic processing program204, description will be made thereof later.

Turning back to FIG. 1, a user can operate the PC 150 to gain access tothe MA server 100 through the Internet 190. Of course, this is in no waylimitative, but, other sorts of equipments, such as hand-held terminals,may be used for that access purpose.

<Operation of the Present Embodiment> . . . Next, referring to FIGS. 5to 7 as well, an operation of the present embodiment will be explained.FIG. 5 illustrates principal steps of the operation. At first, a useroperates his or her PC 150 to make access to the MA server 100 (at stepSA). Responsive thereto, the MA server 100 executes the authenticationprogram 108 by which a window image for authentication is thentransmitted to the PC through the Internet 190 (at step SB). In the PC150, a user's ID and password are inputted on the basis of theauthentication window image appearing on the screen, and then, thoseinputted data for authentication are transmitted through the Internet190 to the MA server 100 (at step SC). The MA server 100 then referencesthe user database 102 and checks thereagainst the data forauthentication which the server has received, thereby identifying theuser (at step SD).

Next, in the MA server 100, the ordering program 110 is executed,thereby transmitting a window image for ordering to the user's PC (atstep SE). Then, in the user's PC 150, for example, there appears suchorder window image as in (A) of FIG. 6 upon the screen. The user, whowishes to set the parameters, may click on the button BA in the windowimage by using a mouse cursor or the like, and, if the user desirestest-listening, he or she may click on the button BB. Upon the button BBhaving been clicked on, a window image for searching as shown in (B) ofthe FIG. 6, for instance, appears on the screen, in which the user mayinput parameters for searching and thereby can test listen to a desiredmusic. Namely, in the illustrated embodiment, the user should firstdesignate one of “solo” and “ensemble”, and further designate a desired“motif”, a desired “sound”, etc. . . . as guided in sequence.Thereafter, clicking on the search button causes a search to effect forrelevant music materials, with the result that the music materials arereproduced.

On the other hand, if the button BA for setting parameters is clickedon, an order sheet image given as in the (C) of FIG. 6 shows up on thescreen. In that case, the user will have to input a desired value ineach of the parameters indicated, or open a pull-down menu to select adesired parameter(s) therein. For example, the user may set “10 minutes”for the size of music, set “80” for the tempo, set “piano” for thesound, and continues to set other parameters . . . At this point, it isnoted that, the user may designate a music material(s) to which he orshe has test listened, whereupon a parameter(s) required for that musicmaterial(s) will be automatically set. That is, for example, if the userdesignates the music material as a guitar solo concert, a parameter forsound will automatically be set as “guitar”. After having set thoseparameters, when the user clicks on the send button, an order data istransmitted to the MA server 100 (at step SF).

On the side of the MA server 100, a processing for creating MA isexecuted on the basis of the order data 114 (at step SG). Specifically,an operator of the DAW makes reference to the order data 114 and usesthe DAW 200 to execute music production operations according to theorder. At this stage, the material data 202 that have been provided inthe DAW 200 is used.

A data of finally produced musical composition is transmitted as adelivery data 116 from the DAW 200 to the MA server 100. Responsivethereto, in the MA server 100, the delivery program 112 is executed, sothat calculation of charges involved is effected by referencing thedelivery data 116 (at step SH). Then, the delivery data 116 istransmitted together with an accounting data to the user's PC 150 (atstep S1). The user's PC 150 stores in memory the delivery data 116received therefrom and simultaneously indicates the details ofaccounting on the screen according to the accounting data (at step SJ).

A specific example showing the ordering and delivery processes under theabove-described system is illustrated in FIG. 7. This example refers tothe case where a background music is applied to each image by the systemof the present invention.

Namely, suppose that images each requiring a background music are asfollows:

-   -   Scene 1 . . . “a girl who is sunk in thought, sitting on a bench        at a park”, for 20 secs.    -   Scene 2 . . . “a girl who recalls an important thing in a        flash”, for 5 secs.    -   Scene 3 . . . “a girl who suddenly breaks into run and away”,        for 15 secs.

Then, the user may order the following musical parts for the respectiveforegoing scenes.

-   -   Scene 1 . . . a soft arpeggio sound of piano (Tempo=80 is        designated.)    -   Scene 2 . . . an abrupt and increasingly aggressive sound of        violin.    -   Scene 3 . . . a sound of ensemble in a pop-like quick rhythm        (Tempo=120 is designated.)

In response to such order, an operator of the DAW selects proper musicmaterials from the material data 202. The DAW operator further executesan editing process for putting together such materials musically so asto complete a new piece of background music. In contrast thereto, asshown in FIG. 7, the conventional process merely consists of selectingsome pieces of ready-made musical compositions which roughly correspondin atmosphere to the respective scenes, cutting out them into somepieces of proper sizes, and putting the pieces together.

<Effects of the Embodiment> . . . As described above, according to thepresent embodiment, the following effects are attained:

-   -   (1) Since the processing employs the multi-track process        effected by the DAW operator, it is possible to obtain a        high-quality music with a uniform and integral sound as a whole,        at relatively low costs. In other words, any musical composition        may be provided in a manner close to ordering, or in what can be        described as a semi-ordering way, as compared with a full order        placed with a composer for music composition.    -   (2) It is easy to re-edit a music that was once edited,        according to a request from a user who has test listened        thereto, by utilizing each of the material data.    -   (3) Music material(s) composed by a renowned composer may be        used as one of the material data 202 to provide a music honored        by the name of that composer, so that an exceptionally high        value-added music can be made available at a reasonable charge.        For instance, in the case where music material(s) composed by a        composer, “Ichiro Yamada”, is used, it will be possible to        indicate his credit on a resulting opus, like “Produced by        Ichiro Yamada”.    -   (4) When ordering, a user can easily place an order by using a        nontechnical term which simply expresses location, color, or the        like . . . (see FIG. 2), instead of using any musical        terminology, which allows any ordinary people to use an ordinary        word expressing an image that he or she has in mind, and        therefore allows a wide ranges of users to use this system. In        particular, the recent increasing development of broad band in        the Internet has led to the fact that even an ordinary        individual person introduces a movie or an animation that he or        she has created, upon the net. Thus, demand for adding music to        those kinds of image pieces has been increased. But, as stated        above, in most cases, it is economically difficult to ask any        composer for music composition. In accordance with the present        embodiment, however, such ordinary individual person can use the        system to add a good quality of music to his or her own movie        work.

For example, in the previously described case of FIG. 7, a user maysimply set the respective parameters as follows:

-   -   Scene 1 . . . for 20 seconds, “park”, “bench”, “sunk in        thought”, and “girl”.    -   Scene 2 . . . for 5 seconds, “in a flash”, “important”,        “recall”, and “girl”.    -   Scene 3 . . . for 15 seconds, “suddenly”, “break into run”,        “away”, and “girl”.

Moreover, it is possible to only transmit the images from the user's PC150 directly to the MA server 100, so that the operator of DAW candirectly review the images and therefore can add more appropriate piecesof music thereto.

<Another Embodiment> . . . A large number of another embodiments may berealized in the present invention. Among them, for instance, there maybe included the following embodiments:

-   -   (1) Instead of the previously described embodiment wherein the        operator of DAW executes such steps of processing as selecting        music materials and editing them, an automatic processing        program 204 may be provided in the DAW 200, depending on a        nature of the processing, so as to subject those processing        steps to automatic processing. For example, under such automatic        processing program, the following steps can be automatically        processed: a step of processing the intro and outro of music        material which has been designated; a step of changing the tempo        and tonality of the music material; a step of setting a refrain        therein; and so forth. Further, such automatically proceessable        parameters may be indicated on the screen of user's PC 150, so        that a user can change the parameters as desired for test        listening.    -   (2) Instead of the previously described embodiment wherein the        delivery data 116 has to be downloaded to the user's PC 150 over        the Internet 190, the delivery may of course be effected by use        of various kinds of recording mediums, such as CD-R, DVD-R and        recording tape.    -   (3) While having described musical compositions in the foregoing        embodiment, the scopes of music to which the present invention        pertains includes overall ranges of sounds, such as the        so-called SE (sound effect), narration, and the like.    -   (4) The architecture of system may also be modified so as to        execute the same operations as suggested above. For example,        instead of the previously described embodiment wherein the MA        server 100 and the DAW 200 are arranged independently of each        other, a whole of the systems may be arranged in one integral        computer system.    -   (5) The foregoing embodiments have been described in the case of        the DAW being used therein, but, of course, any other suitable        means may be used as well. In addition, depending on a nature of        order, it may be arranged such that one part of a music piece to        be created is produced by using the DAW, while another part of        the music piece is composed by a composer.

Applicability for Industrial Use

As described thus far, the present invention has the effect of allowingfor efficient provision of high-quality pieces of music full oforiginality in a short period of time.

1. A process for providing music, which uses a great number of materialdata that provided beforehand from side of a sever in a multi-trackform, said process being characterized by including: a step of receivingan order from a user through a network; a step of subjecting saidmaterial data to required processing by means of DAW according todetails of said order; and a step of providing said user with a musicwhich has been produced by and subsequent to said required processing.2. A system for producing music, by which the music is producedaccording to details of an order received from a user through a networkand then provided to said user, said system being characterized by beingprovided with: a great number of material data provided beforehand in amulti-track form; an ordering means for allowing parameters to be setand then allowing an order to be placed; and a delivery means fordelivering to said user a resulting music which has been produced, andalso characterized in that said resulting music is produced by usingsaid material data according to said details of said order placed bysaid ordering means.
 3. The system for producing music as set forth inclaim 2, which is characterized by being provided with: a test-listeningmeans for allowing said material data to be test listened.
 4. The systemfor producing music as set forth in claim 2, which is characterized bybeing provided with: an authentication means for executingauthentication processing to said user; and an accounting means forexecuting accounting processing with respect to services given to saiduser.
 5. The system for producing music as set forth in claim 2, whichis characterized in that: the music, which is to be produced by usingsaid material data according to said details of said order placed bysaid ordering means, is produced by use of DAW.
 6. The system forproducing music as set forth in claim 5, which is characterized in thatsaid DAW is provided with: an automatic processing means forautomatically producing the music which is to be produced by using saidmaterial data according to said details of said order placed by saidordering means.
 7. The system for producing music as set forth in claim6, which is characterized in that said ordering means allowsnontechnical term associated with the music to be used in order to setsaid details of said order.
 8. A system for providing music, which ischaracterized in that said system for producing music as set forth inclaim 2, and a larger number of user's terminals are connected to anetwork.
 9. The system for producing music as set forth in claim 3,which is characterized by being provided with: an authentication meansfor executing authentication processing to said user; and an accountingmeans for executing accounting processing with respect to services givento said user.
 10. The system for producing music as set forth in claim3, which is characterized in that: the music, which is to be produced byusing said material data according to said details of said order placedby said ordering means, is produced by use of DAW.
 11. The system forproducing music as set forth in claim 4, which is characterized in that:the music, which is to be produced by using said material data accordingto said details of said order placed by said ordering means, is producedby use of DAW.
 12. The system for producing music as set forth in claim3, which is characterized in that said ordering means allowsnontechnical term associated with the music to be used in order to setsaid details of said order.
 13. The system for producing music as setforth in claim 4, which is characterized in that said ordering meansallows nontechnical term associated with the music to be used in orderto set said details of said order.
 14. The system for producing music asset forth in claim 5, which is characterized in that said ordering meansallows nontechnical term associated with the music to be used in orderto set said details of said order.
 15. The system for producing music asset forth in claim 6, which is characterized in that said ordering meansallows nontechnical term associated with the music to be used in orderto set said details of said order.
 16. A system for providing music,which is characterized in that said system for producing music as setforth in claim 3, and a larger number of user's terminals are connectedto a network.
 17. A system for providing music, which is characterizedin that said system for producing music as set forth in claim 4, and alarger number of user's terminals are connected to a network.
 18. Asystem for providing music, which is characterized in that said systemfor producing music as set forth in claim 5, and a larger number ofuser's terminals are connected to a network.
 19. A system for providingmusic, which is characterized in that said system for producing music asset forth in any one of claim 6, and a larger number of user's terminalsare connected to a network.
 20. A system for providing music, which ischaracterized in that said system for producing music as set forth inclaim 7, and a larger number of user's terminals are connected to anetwork.